Kalpetta: Authorities have initiated a comprehensive structural assessment of select houses in the rehabilitation township being developed on the outskirts of Kalpetta for families displaced by the Punchirimattam landslide disaster, after cracks were reported in a few units.
According to officials, two houses in the first zone of the township exhibited visible cracks on their terraces, leading to minor water seepage. In response, technical teams have begun detailed evaluations, including ultrasonic testing, to determine the structural integrity of the affected buildings.
Representatives of the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, which is overseeing the construction of the township, stated that the cracks are superficial and do not pose any immediate structural threat. They added that repair work has already been carried out on the damaged sections.
The issue first came to light in a house allotted to Naufal, a resident of Choormala, where terrace cracks were noticed. A similar defect was subsequently identified in a nearby unit, prompting a site inspection by a team led by ULCCS Chief Operating Officer Arun Babu.
The township project, aimed at rehabilitating victims of the landslide, saw its first phase inaugurated by Pinarayi Vijayan on March 1, marking the completion of 178 houses out of a planned total of 410 across multiple zones.
Despite the allocation of land titles, many beneficiary families have yet to occupy their homes due to pending ancillary works. Officials indicated that the delay in habitation may have contributed to the minor deterioration observed in a few structures.
Earlier, state authorities, including the Revenue Department, had assured that the township is being constructed with enhanced safety standards, incorporating measures to withstand potential seismic activity and ensure long-term resilience.
Further inspection reports are awaited as officials continue to monitor the situation closely and reassure residents about the safety of the housing units.